Violence against women escalated to Olympic-level competition
Those who cheered on Imane Khelif in the Paris Olympics showed blatant disrespect for women's sports and safety.
Photo courtesy of Getty.
When Italian boxer Angela Carini squared off against Imane Khelif at the 2024 Paris Games, it became clear that something was amiss. After all, her opponent was a towering man. Yet, due to the IOC's haphazard policies, Khelif was permitted to compete against women.
Thirty seconds into the match, Khelif landed a devastating blow that sent Carini's headgear flying and left her bleeding. The fight lasted only 46 seconds, with Carini crumpling to knees, sobbing. "I've never felt a punch like this," she told reporters.
It wasn't just Khelif's fists that dashed Carini's Olympic dreams - it was also the cowardice of the IOC officials and sports governance bodies who ignored concerns about his place in the ring.
Nearly a year later, a leaked medical report confirms what many suspected all along: Imane Khelif is a man. An internationally-accredited lab conducted a chromosome test, revealing an XY karyotype - a male pattern. As a result, he has been banned from competing in World Boxing events.
This is the second report that appears to confirm Khelif's male anatomy. Last year, French journalist Djaffar Ait Aoudia reported that Khelif has 5-alpha reductase deficiency, a condition exclusive to biological males. The IBA's sex eligibility test led to Khelif's ban from the women's category, along with Taiwanese boxer Lin Yu-ting, several months prior to the Paris Games. Somehow, the IOC dismissed these bans as part of a Russian-led disinformation campaign.
Meanwhile, the IOC's stance continues to be that "if your passport says 'female,' that's good enough." As developmental biologist Dr. Emma Hilton explains, "Medical evidence indicates that Khelif is a male with a disorder of sex development, providing a sporting advantage." Ignoring these facts, the IOC allowed Khelif to participate in Paris 2024, putting female safety and fairness at risk.
It didn't take a genetic test to discern Khelif's masculine features. With his slender hips, flat chest, broad shoulders, and boxing style, it was obvious he was not a woman. And after his gold medal victory, his all-male coaching team carried him aloft in celebration. In cultures like Algeria, where physical contact between men and women is taboo, such a gesture would be unthinkable if they truly believed Khelif was female.
Amid the outrage, commentators and organizations denounced anyone questioning Khelif's place in the ring as bigoted. Amnesty International's Stephen Cockburn alleged that Khelif and Yu-ting were being "hounded by hatred," framing concerns about women's rights as toxic and transphobic. Minky Worden of Human Rights Watch dismissed sex testing as "abusive" and "unscientific." And GLAAD, characteristically without irony, issued a "fact-check" condemning all criticism of Khelif as "transphobia and misinformation."
Media outlets, typically, perpetuated the charade by consistently referring to Khelif as "she," portraying him as a victim rather than an aggressor. The Guardian took things a step further, publishing an illogical article that painted those concerned about Khelif's conduct as misogynists and "MAGA trolls."
Even boxing pundit Steve Bunce, who once claimed Khelif was always a "she," switched his stance this week, calling for reliable sex tests while insisting criticism of Khelif is a "witch hunt." Predictably, he was torn apart online.
Imane Khelif is not claiming to be transgender. He simply has a genetic disorder. But in 2024, countless commentators and organizations were convinced he was a woman, demonizing those who questioned the IOC's absurd decisions. To them, women's right to fair competition simply didn't matter.
[The IOC's lax policies have long been criticized, but it is important to note that the organization does not oversee boxing at the Olympic level directly—the sport is now being provisionally managed by World Boxing, as the IOC has distanced itself from the previous governing body, the International Boxing Association (IBA), due to governance concerns.[4]]
[The availability of comprehensive sex testing varies across sports, as testing requirements are determined by each sports governing body. In the case of World Boxing, mandatory genetic (PCR) testing is set to be implemented for all athletes over 18 starting in July 2025, with the goal of detecting the presence of the Y chromosome and determining sex assigned at birth.[3][4]]
- Despite the continuous controversy surrounding Imane Khelif's participation in women's boxing, culture and politics intertwine as some organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, label those questioning his place in the ring as transphobic and bigoted, stifling free speech and debate on the matter.
- In a culture where physical contact between men and women is considered taboo, such as in Algeria, it's questionable why Khelif's all-male coaching team would publicly celebrate his victories, further fueling speculation about his identity and alleged advantage in women's sports.
- As sports governance bodies grapple with the issue of identity politics, changing views on free speech, and the cultural implications of allowing individuals like Imane Khelif to compete in women's sports, it's essential to address these complex issues swiftly and objectively to maintain fairness and safety for all female athletes.
